Services
Advisory That Holds Up Under Audit
I don’t just answer questions — I build compliance systems. Every engagement is structured, scoped, and designed to produce outcomes your broker can execute and CBP can verify.
01
IEEPA Refund Screening & Filing
Fixed-Fee Screening + Success-Based Recovery
The IEEPA tariff rollbacks created billions in refundable duties — but CBP doesn’t send you a check automatically. Someone has to screen your entries, separate what’s actually refundable from what’s not, and file through the CAPE portal. That’s what I do.
Most importers don’t realize their entries may include Section 232, Section 301, or AD/CVD duties mixed in with IEEPA lines. Free calculators don’t catch that. I use a classification-first approach that ensures only genuinely refundable duties are filed — no false positives, no rejected claims.
- Full entry portfolio screening against IEEPA rate tables
- Separation of IEEPA duties from 232, 301, and AD/CVD
- CAPE portal filing and documentation preparation
- Recovery estimate before you commit
Real-World Result
~$70K
Overpaid Duties Identified
On a single entry for a pharmaceutical machinery importer — caused by a misapplied Section 232 derivative tariff that a classification-first review caught immediately.
Pricing
Fixed Fee + Recovery Share
Fixed fee for the screening, analysis, and broker instruction package — due on delivery. Plus a success-based percentage of duties recovered when CBP pays. You pay for the expertise upfront; we both win on the recovery.
Why This Matters
The Error You Don’t Catch Repeats on Every Shipment
A single misclassification or incorrect derivative tariff doesn’t just affect one entry — it compounds across your entire import portfolio until someone catches it.
Pricing
Fixed Fee or Hourly
Scoped engagements with a defined deliverable. Full portfolio reviews start at $1,500. Hourly advisory at $169/hr for targeted reviews.
02
Entry Audit
Classification Accuracy · Duty Exposure · Refund Opportunities
Your customs broker files your entries — but are they filing them correctly? Misclassification, incorrect Chapter 99 application, and duty-stacking errors compound silently across every shipment. By the time you notice, the exposure can be significant.
I review your import entries from the ground up: HTS classification accuracy, Chapter 99 applicability, duty rate validation, and stacking logic. If something’s wrong, I tell you exactly what it is and how to fix it. If you’ve overpaid, I identify the recovery path.
- HTS classification verification against product function
- Chapter 99 exposure analysis (232, 301, IEEPA)
- Duty-stacking validation and error identification
- Broker instruction framework for corrective action
- PSC vs. Protest assessment for overpayment recovery
03
Trade Compliance Advisory
Strategy · Governance · Classification Frameworks
Your broker is the executor. I’m the advisor. I define the classification strategy, build the compliance framework, and create the broker instructions that ensure consistent, correct tariff application across your entire import operation.
This is how it should work: you have a structured system that determines tariff applicability based on HTS classification — not guesswork about material composition or country of origin. I build that system, document it, and train your team to maintain it.
- HTSUS classification reviews and structured memos
- Tariff planning across 232, 301, IEEPA, and AD/CVD
- Broker oversight and instruction frameworks
- ACE / drawback readiness and refund strategy
- Compliance audit preparation and corrective action support
- Temporary import / TIB analysis and recommendations
Advisory Model
Assessment → Strategy → Execution
Every engagement follows a phased approach: understand your exposure, define the strategy, then build the framework your team and broker can execute consistently.
Pricing
$169/hr or Project-Based
Hourly for targeted advisory. Fixed-fee for scoped projects with defined deliverables. All engagements include a formal recommendation memo.
Scope Includes
International Support
I work directly with your overseas teams to align import compliance with procurement and engineering — including Germany-facing communication.
The Classification-First Approach
Tariff Applicability Starts with Classification
Most tariff errors happen because someone assumed applicability based on material or origin instead of classification. I reverse that. HTS classification comes first — everything else follows from it.
Step 1
Classify the Product
Determine the correct HTS classification based on product function, not marketing descriptions or assumptions. This is the foundation every tariff decision builds on.
Step 2
Determine Tariff Exposure
Once classification is locked, evaluate Chapter 99 applicability — Section 232, 301, IEEPA, AD/CVD. Each has different triggers, and they stack. Get the sequence right.
Step 3
Build the System
Document the logic, create broker instructions, and establish governance. The goal isn’t answering one question — it’s building a framework that produces correct results every time.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Tell me what you’re importing and I’ll tell you where your exposure is. No sales pitch — just a straight answer from a licensed broker.